Honestly, I get where you’re coming from—winter’s brutal on anything solar up north. But I’ve had a bit of a different experience with my keyless setup. If you’re open to a little tinkering, there are ways to make it less of a hassle. Last year I swapped out the standard rechargeable batteries for lithium AAs (the non-rechargeable kind), and they held up way better in the cold. Didn’t have to change them until spring, which was a nice surprise.
Also, I added a cheap foam gasket around the lock housing to cut down on wind chill. It’s not perfect, but it seemed to help a bit with battery drain. I agree, manual override is a must—nothing worse than being locked out in a blizzard. But with some tweaks, keyless can work even in messy winter conditions. Manufacturers definitely oversell the “set and forget” idea, though… reality always needs a backup plan.
Yeah, lithium AAs are a game changer in the cold—totally agree there. I actually wrapped my lock in that sticky-backed weatherstripping foam from the hardware store. Not pretty, but hey, it works. Still keep a spare key taped under the porch though... just in case Murphy’s Law kicks in.
Still keep a spare key taped under the porch though... just in case Murphy’s Law kicks in.
That’s smart. I’m always paranoid about getting locked out, especially in the winter. I did the same weatherstripping trick but used some leftover pipe insulation—looks even worse but it’s cheap and does the job. Have you noticed any battery drain issues with the cold, or is lithium really holding up? I’m still on the fence about going fully keyless, honestly...
I hear you on the paranoia—my old place had a door that locked itself if you even looked at it funny. I’ve been using lithiums for the keypad and, knock on wood, they’re holding up better than I expected, even with the cold snaps. Still, I keep a regular key hidden in a spot so obvious I’m convinced only I’d ever check there. Not sure I’ll ever fully trust tech over a good old-fashioned key, but at least my hands stay warmer now.
- Had a similar experience when I swapped out my old deadbolt for a smart lock last year.
- Main thing I noticed: fewer drafts sneaking in, since the new keypad model actually seals tighter than the old hardware.
- I do worry about battery waste, though. Rechargeables don’t seem to last as long in the cold, but at least I’m not tossing AAs every couple months.
- Still keep a backup key in the shed, just in case. Tech is great—until it isn’t, right?
